Consumer Protection Councils and Redressal Agencies in India
Consumer Protection Councils and Redressal Agencies
Consumer Protection Councils
Consumer Protection Councils are advisory bodies established at the central, state, and district levels to promote and protect consumer rights. These councils play a vital role in shaping consumer protection policies and strategies.
Key functions of Consumer Protection Councils:
- Reviewing Consumer Policies: The councils review existing consumer policies and suggest improvements.
- Promoting Consumer Awareness: They undertake initiatives to educate consumers about their rights and responsibilities.
- Coordinating with Government Agencies: They coordinate with various government agencies to ensure effective implementation of consumer protection laws.
- Resolving Consumer Disputes: While they don’t have direct adjudicatory powers, they can play a role in resolving consumer disputes through mediation and conciliation.
Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies
To provide a mechanism for speedy and effective redressal of consumer grievances, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 established a three-tier system of consumer disputes redressal agencies:
- District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum:
- Handles cases involving claims up to ₹20 lakh.
- Comprises a president (a judicial officer) and two other members.
- State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:
- Handles cases involving claims between ₹20 lakh and ₹1 crore.
- Comprises a president (a retired High Court judge) and two other members.
- National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC):
- Handles cases involving claims exceeding ₹1 crore.
- Comprises a president (a retired Supreme Court judge) and other judicial and non-judicial members.
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